Hethersett Hall - activities for residents during lockdown

This is part of a series of examples of the huge contribution made by local VCSE organisations in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. To understand more about the pivotal role played by Voluntary and Social Enterprise organisations in Norfolk’s Covid-19 response effort please visit our Norfolk VCSE Covid-19 Story page.

Life has been exceptionally difficult for residents of care homes over the past year, with COVID-19 making visits from friends and family impossible. Only recently have we seen restrictions lifting enough such that visitors can once again be welcomed in. 

Many care homes have of course in the meantime been providing innovative recreational and social activities to support the health, morale and wellbeing of their residents. Hethersett Hall Care Home near Norwich is no exception.  

The staff at Hethersett Hall provides high quality person-centred residential care and support for older people, as well as a Memory Lane community for those living with dementia. The skilled and dedicated activities team is committed to providing professional and respectful care that focuses on the individual needs of each resident.  

And during lockdown the team has been busy entertaining the residents with a variety of imaginative and stimulating activities.  

Activities Co-ordinator Charlotte Govier says ‘We offer a range of different activities here at Hethersett Hall to meet all needs and individual interests and hobbies. Residents are offered the opportunity to take part in an activity seven days a week.’   

Flags were to be seen energetically waving during afternoon tea for the Queen’s 95th birthday.  ‘Rhyme, Sing and Move’ has proved to be a popular activity, as is the Fireside Quiz, and the residents have even been visited by ducklings in a portable swimming pool! 

‘Through this very difficult year staff have worked extremely hard to ensure the well-being and safety of our residents’ adds Charlotte.  

‘We are very much looking forward welcoming visitors back to our home in the near future to enjoy a variety of themed events. We just wanted to share a few happy memories and special moments of our wonderful residents enjoying themselves until, in the words of Vera Lynn “we’ll meet again.” We are very proud of the service we provide and are always happy to answer calls and show visitors around.’ 

For further information visit Hethersett Hall’s website here or visit them on Facebook here where you can see residents enjoying VE Day anniversary celebrations and more. 

Useful links 

You can find some great ideas for maintaining active lives for the elderly, including dementia sufferers, here;  from the Alzheimers Society here; and more ideas still here.  

Care residents and the lockdown road map 

From Monday 17th May care home residents have been able to receive more named visitors and enjoy opportunities to make visits outside with no need to self-isolate when they return. As part of Step 3 of the government’s Road Map out of lockdown, the number of named family members or friends able to visit their loved ones in care homes will be increased from 2 to 5, as the visiting restrictions continue to ease. More detailed information here.